Those with a ** next to their name gave an additional donation. Those with *** have given a $25 or greater donation. Thanks to all those who have joined or renewed their commitment and those who have given additional donations to support our many causes.

Time to Renew Your Membership for 2014

All memberships expired on December 31 unless you have already renewed your membership. Please try to send in your renewals in January. We sincerely appreciate your continued support.

The Next Regular Meeting will be Held on January 27th in Eureka

The next regular HBBCA meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m., Monday, January 27th, at Chapala’s Café, 2nd and C Street in Eureka. Dinner is optional.

According to Sheila Parrott, City of Eureka Engineering Department, new “Bicycle Friendly City” signs will be placed in the near future. One will go on each Chamber of Commerce information billboards, one on Broadway near Wabash, and the other on 4th Street near Big Louie’s Pizza. In the future, signs may be placed at other locations, such as in Old Town.

Sheila indicated that the Transportation Safety Commission is anxious to see what they can work on to advance to the next level. The League of American Bicyclists awarded the Bronze designation to the City. The next level is Silver. The City of Arcata received a Silver designation last year.

Caltrans “Arrive Alive” Ads Have Begun

The six “Arrive Alive” ads that were produced earlier this year by Caltrans with the help of HBBCA and others were to begin to “arrive” on November 4th and continue airing through March, 2014. However, it seems that they didn’t start showing on TV until late December. There are six different ads, and are being released on television, radio and in local movie theaters. See You Tube versions at: http://www.youtube.com/arrivealivenow.

Three Foot Law Doesn’t Go Into Effect Until September 2014

The “3 Foot Law, “signed into law in 2013 doesn’t go into effect until September 16, 2014. While many bills aren’t signed as urgency statutes so go into effect the following January or July, for some reason this one does not go into effect until September. Watch out in the meantime, as we won’t see all motorists showing full courtesy toward bicyclists for another 9 months. Then, a new era will be born!!

Lots of Problems with New Bike Lanes on Valley East in Arcata

If you have driven a car or ridden a bicycle in the Valley West/Valley East area, you’ve noticed new “buffered” bike lanes have been created. Unfortunately, the lanes on Valley East have many problems. Instead of gradual transitions where the configuration changes, you will see 45 degree angles, which cause cyclists to either ignore the routing or cause them to ride in an erratic fashion like some kind of extreme bike rodeo. We have provided input on the concerns and proper standards for bike lanes to City staff. So far, we don’t know if any changes will be made. While we like seeing more bike lanes being created, we don’t like them developed in a manner that ignores State and Federal standards.

The bike lanes on Valley West were done after those on Valley East and don’t have the same issues.

Bike Advocacy Becoming Cool

In the October 2013 issue of Bicycling Magazine there is an article entitled “While You Were Out Riding, Bike Advocacy Became Cool.” The article included interviews with eight innovators who “are flush with new ideas about how bicycles can change the world.” Here’s some of what was included in the article.

Kristen Gavin, 32, Philadelphia, taught a physical fitness class at a local recovery home, where she met women trying to gain traction in a new life, in some cases by losing their “prison weight.” Now her four-year old nonprofit holds group rides and indoor cycling classes to help women reconnect with society after emerging from incarceration or drug and alcohol addiction.

April Economides, 38, Long Beach, is not so much a bike advocate as a business expert who, through her work at her firm, provides analytical evidence on the retail bounce that growing numbers of cyclists provide. “Sales go up, property vacancies decrease, and the area becomes more vibrant.”

Who to Call When You See a Safety Concern (Rev.10/28/2013)
The HBBCA checked with agencies in the Humboldt Bay region to determine appropriate contact personnel to respond to bike-related issues. If you see a condition that needs to be corrected in order to improve safety or convenience for cyclists such as a pothole in a bike lane, accumulated debris on a roadway shoulder, the need to re-stripe a bike lane, the need to clear vegetation encroaching on a shoulder, or a street light that is out, call the responsible agency/person listed below.

Of course, if you see a condition that requires immediate attention, like a stop sign knocked down, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency conditions, the following contact information is provided:

The HBBCA is working to improve and encourage bicycle commuting. Help make it happen by joining now or renewing your membership for 2014.

Your $5.00 annual dues, paid on a calendar year basis, will help pay for youth helmets, bike racks, this newsletter, the website, BikeSmart promotions, Bike Month activities, prizes, postage, etc. And, it will help demonstrate your commitment to our goal.

With your membership card, you may request the following discounts on bike parts and accessories: 10% (or more) at Henderson Center Bicycles; 10% at Revolution Bicycle Repair; 15% at Adventure’s Edge; 10% at Pacific Outfitters, and 15% at Sport and Cycle. Membership cards include stickers on the back showing discounts offered by the various bike shops.